Bring It On

2014.....let's do this and see who's left standing. 

The Communication Today....

I remember when Good Morning and Good Night were automatic with us. Everyday without fail, good or bad we said that. That reach out to make sure the other was ok. That no longer happens. I guess it's the natural progression of life but I miss it and it hurts.

Happy Hump Day

Keke Palmer making my Favorite color looking oh so good!

I have someone in mind that I know would kill in this. I'm sure she'd change the color though.

Happy Birthday Bright Eyes!!

To one of the most important people to me in the world to me I wish you I very happy Birthday!!!!

Say you soon!!

Very few people have changed. I know folk enough that within a given situation I can essentially predict the most likely of 2 top courses of actions. Depending on who it is I may hope harder that they surprise me and break their cycle, but I'm but dumb enough to think that it'll happen. I stay ready for the most likely. Not allowing much room for disappointment anymore.

Black Male.........What Do We Do Now.........

48 hrs removed from the not guilty verdict for murderer George Zimmerman. While I've made a few remarks here and there, it is here on the Blvd that I always spill my inner most feelings and with this tragedy the emotions are plentiful. Anger washed over me that I did to great job of containing. Anger not from shock but from the blatant audacity of the situation we find ourselves in again. We, that's a funny word to use in this moment. Who are we? Well I guess that depends on who you are. You may be a Black man like me who is constantly feared and vilified. You may be a Black woman with Black men in your life you love and care about fully sharing the plight that comes with this nation. You may be a non Black man with only an inkling of what we go though yet even still you know this is wrong. You may be a non Black woman that has dedicated her heart to loving the Black man and supporting this struggle. What ever you're position in this all is you feel something. We all feel that to walk away free from the murder of an unarmed child is wrong.

I gain some peace from seeing the make up of the immediate rallies across this nation. It reminds me of the rally I was in when this all first started. To see young and old, black and white all unified in outrage gives us that glimpse at what this nation could be about.....not sure if it ever will be though. America gives you the ultimate gamblers chance as a Black man. You will have the chance to gain all you desire and work for but understand that you must SURVIVE. It's an all or nothing proposition and the forces you are going against will take you out if you give them the slightest reason. For the chance to have it all you live with a zero value placed on your life. That was the final statement made in this case. You're in your neighborhood? You're not doing anything wrong? You're unarmed? You're a good student? It does not matter at all if you are a Black man. You are to be viewed as an immediate threat no questions asked. You do not have the right to defend yourself no matter what is coming at you. 

I'm a guardian and a protector by nature. When those I love are in that line of fire I step up. It hits me to the core of my soul that a young man that stood his ground was thrown away with such disregard. So as anger turned into pain and frustration I watched the reactions of the people. More hurt, pain, attempts to find answers, sarcasm, rage calls for revenge, etc.... But what hit me the hardest and definitely had me fighting back tears was hearing the mothers and fathers explaining the things they have say to their kids, the warnings and rules that come with being a black male in this world. I think back to the times my parents told me those same rules. It's not a game. They will lock you up. They will kill you. 

Usually it's the police doing things like this. This was a weird set up in that this guy with no real power was essentially treated like a cop from the beginning. He wasn't even going to be arrested had the people not made noise for it. This case frustrated me and it really became apparent during closing statements. I had an interesting exchange on Twitter when I expressed my dismay with the prosecution. It was said to me "well your not a lawyer." and you know what this is true, but it doesn't take a lawyer to understand the difference between what the prosecution has to prove and the easier road the defense has to travel in raising doubt. I saw this and feared the result that we ended up getting. There is no waving of the "I was right" flag here. I wish with all my heart I was wrong.   

So what do you do when you cant do nothing but there's nothing you can do?

You do what you can.

I will not walk with my head low in fear. Never have and definitely wont start now. I don't pretend to have all the answers as many others claim. The Internets are good for making everyone sound sure and good for something.....until it's time to put in that work. At a time where I personally have been feeling varying levels of disrespect and funny style energies, life drops this bomb that life is too short. Let go of those that only keep you around for there own convenient needs. Cause the Black man is viewed as very useful to many folk. Invest those energies in those that you love and equally love you in return. You control your life. Make sure that you write a grand legacy with it. Everyone isn't a militant freedom writer but whatever works best for you, whatever manner of expression comes most natural to you make it speak out for you and represent how you are and what you stand for. 

Life is Change

Some changes just take longer to happen and regardless of how you elect to acknowledge it, it's happened.

Connections....

Summer Update Vlog....It's Life

Summer Update on the Blvd: How's Life Treating You from Nightfall 914 on Vimeo.

Mission Accomplished.......Almost

The students have been addressed, the cities are been visited and now all that's left are the final loose ends to tie up before returning home. It's been a wild month. I'm ready for the next phase of my life. Let's keep this progression going. People, places and all things are up for review. There's no room for anything not moving forward. 

914 I miss you. I'm coming home again. :) 

Home for the past 3+ Weeks.....Memories

Don't Tell Us To "Get Over It!"

Evolution Taking Place.....

So many things I'm seeing. So much I have to deal with in various fashions. Some matters get the direct approach while others require a fall back and observe, almost to the point of total disinterest. I take in the info hoping it won't require action from me later on. I so understand why they say ignorance is bliss. Knowing too much can be a burden at times.......but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm made for this.

Step Back....

Less talking.....more watching.......peep the scene for a bit before just jumping in.

Tribe Tales of Sun, Fun, Film & Tears.....

The courtyard outside of compound

On day after Election Day I join Evita and 12 other members of the Nomadness Travel Tribe on one of our NomadnessX trips. The destination was Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. From very early on in the trip it was clear things would be very interesting. As boarding began for our Jet Blue flight official word hit that Obama had won the elections! Announcements were made on the plane and the celebration began. The initial crew of 4, the set up team hit D.R after 4am and reached our stronghold after 5am. Just in time to catch the sun raising over our open courtyard interior.

Our open interior courtyard

Once the whole team assembled we began an incredible week of site seeing, dining out, cooking, drinking, extreme activities, charity and all around pleasure. In the midst of this new friendships were born, unknown family ties were unearthed and respect was earned on many levels.

Due to a few last minute cancellations it ended being my homie Mac' & I as the only men on the trip. Sounds like paradise right? Well it would have many, many high points but for those that know me and know my protective side it was a bit stressful at points too. Eventually I had to say to myself that "hey you can't watch over everyone all the time."

Bridge to the 1st Waterfall

It's far too much to recap in words but I can say this trip was very well balanced. It had equal levels of wild out "What happens here stays here" fun, bonding and enjoying the Dominican city scene, beach life, serious adult conversation, charitable reflective work and an amazing surprise that was apparently in the works for quite a while. Yeah Evita and Crew "GOT ME"...they got me good.

Mac' getting ready for the Beisbol' game....lol

Not just was this trip good in itself but it put us in a position to do more going forward and as such I think that Santo Domingo will be seeing more of us. More Pix and Vids coming soon!

The Ladies of the Tribe

Third Times A Char!! Battle of the Sexes Returns

My Toronto hustler in a skirt Goddess Intellect is back at it with the third installment of the Battle of the Sexes Series. Hit the link below for early info. 

Is Monogamy A Myth? On Sunday November 4th 2012 you are invited to engage in a bold and energetic battle of the sexes conversation on monogamy in the new millennium 

Topics Include: Open Relationships, Religion, Infidelity, Polygamy, Celibacy, Safe Sex Join our expert panel of journalists, authors, motivational speakers as we delve deep into the issues and questions around monogamy.

Looking Back on the Nomadness Travel Tribe 1st Anniversary Weekend

I'm a New Yorker. My heart pumps pure NY Blue and I've never apologized for it. The vast majority of things and people that I love are here. While dipping out for a vacation is always cool. I never lost sleep over the idea of "needing" to travel. As my business plans evolved they kind of pointed me in the direction of broader thinking and planning. This coincided with Evita Robinson's creation of the Nomadness Travel Tribe. This is a international community that works as backbone to much of the projects under Evie's Nomadness brand. She invited me in and early on I just stood back and watched. I took note of the world hoppers and respected their way of life but wasn't pressed to "be like them". If there's one thing about me due to a number of things I've been through is that I'm confident in who I am so it took some time but the want to branch out and travel got me too.

Not long into the existence of the Tribe Evita extended an offer to me to be a part of her inner circle, The High Council. Regardless of the fact that I may never have the most passport stamps in the world I'm always down to support Evita's work. From the point we've been laying down the foundation of what we have now.
Roughly a year later we're celebrating an anniversary. Proudly boasting 3300+ members worldwide, Nearly $13K raised independently via a 2 month kickstarter campaign, trips around the world, youth programs and so much more. To see dreams take form on the physical plane is an amazing thing. In spite of a number of set backs and lessons along the way this past weekend proved so much of what Evita has created is going exceedingly well, and all those late night convos, the questions and choices she'd bounce off me are moving in the proper direction.

**Hit the jump for more on this past weekend, pix & vids**

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Wrapped Beauty

"...who needs wrapping when everything looks so much better unwrapped?"

- Photographer S. Conner

iSupport: ¡Fly by CoCo Latina! is off to Russia

Crowdfunding

My homie Frankie is on her grind fund raising for her upcoming journey to Russia for new business and adventure. In February 2011, I started a journey to travel my way around the world. It has been a bittersweet yet life altering journey thus far. I was blessed to see the wonders of the world and wanted to express my experiences through my writing. So I created my blog, ¡Fly by CoCo Latina! Through my writing, pictures and videos I am able to bring you, the reader with me. Whether I am going through tribulations or recalling a hysterical moment from my journey, I am honored to know that I can share these very personal moments with you! I am so thankful for all of my fans and readers in supporting me emotionally and spiritually through this nomadic life that I am simply just trying to live my best at. Since then I have been trying to find a consistent way of traveling, and I have found my way!

Back in Toronto for my 1st Caribana

I was long overdue but it was well worth it. The jumping, flag waving (I lost 1 of my 3 :( ), the eating and drinking was so what the doctor ordered to get me back in the frame of mind to deal with certain things at hand. Here's some imagery :) I'll definitely be returning to do this again!

 

On that Nomadness BullS%^$!!!!!

Salute to the Nomadness Travel Tribe for their successful run with the bulls in Spain this week!!! A lot went into making that trip happen and I'm glad it all came together so well.

The Legend Grows From Here......